Might as well make the money now

If we were to play devil's advocate for a minute with regard to gentrification, it's worth pointing out that the State of Louisiana isn't very well invested in the city even being here for much longer.

The Louisiana Legislature finally approved a bill Friday morning saying it opposes and wants to kill the levee board lawsuit seeking recompense from 97 oil and gas companies for environmental damage to the wetlands.

The state Senate voted 25 to 11 to concur with House amendments. Senate Bill 469 now goes to Gov. Bobby Jindal for his signature.

The legislation would reach back and change the conditions under which the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East, called SLFPA-E, could sue.

So long as the coast is falling into the sea anyway, our legislators figure they might as well allow the extractive industries who dominate the state's economy pull all the money they can out of it in the meantime, right?

I suppose we could say the same for the high priced playground for tourists and adventurers we're building in New Orleans.  It'll all be gone in less than a century anyway.  Might as well let the dominant players make their money now.  What are the rest of us even doing here?